Locust Projects selects twenty-six South Florida high school students to participate in the 2014 LAB (Locust Art Builders) program:

Kristen Baldaccini, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, David Baptiste, Miami Beach Senior High,Marco Barbieri, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, Cyrus Blot, North Miami Senior High School, Allison Bouganim, Design and Architecture Senior High, Valeria Buttaci, Gulliver Preparatory School,Ashley Chacon-Herrera, Mays Conservatory of the Arts, Carolina Cuevas, G. Holmes Braddocus Senior High, Micaela Diaz Galvez, Sunset Miami Sunset Senior High, Valentina Echeverry, Academy of Arts and Minds, James Ephraim, Coral Reef Senior High School, Sofia Fascia, Dr. Michael Krop Senior High, Chloe P. Friend, New World School of the Arts, Beth Kimsey, Miami Arts Charter, Ana Martinez Oletta, Palmer Trinity School, Betty McGhee, Ransom Everglades, Fabiola Millan, New World School of the Arts, Vincent Nastasi, Academy of Arts and Minds, Luciano Picone, Design and Architecture Senior High, Danielle J. Respeto, New World School of the Arts, Ana Rivera, Miami Beach Senior High, Galicia Rothe, Palmer Trinity School, Anais Shaw, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, Catherine Toruno, John A. Ferguson Senior High School, Camila Villa, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart,Emmaneul Williams, Design & Architecture Senior High Florida-based MFA student, Andrew Horton, currently enrolled at Florida International University, has been selected for the LAB MFA exhibition in Locust Projects' Project Room.

Locust Projects, Miami’s longest running alternative contemporary art space, is pleased to present the 5th year of Locust Arts Builders (LAB). This year, 26 South Florida high school students selected from an open call, will have the opportunity to create a collaborative exhibition at Locust Projects’ gallery in Miami’s Design District. In a landmark year of growth, applications to the LAB program have nearly doubled, in both the amount of submissions and number of high schools served.

Under the direction of contemporary visual artists Monica Lopez de Victoria of the TM Sisters and Loriel Beltran, students are given the opportunity to create a collaborative exhibition at Locust Projects and manage all aspects of its production during a three week summer intensive. Students also visit art institutions on guided field trips and interact with members of the local art community during visits to the Locust Projects gallery.

The LAB program extends Locust Projects’ 16-year commitment to experimentation and innovation in artistic practice to the next generation of South Florida artists. LAB promotes contemporary art and project-based learning as a means to encourage creativity, critical analysis, and problem solving, while building communication skills. This unique initiative allows young artists to learn the practical and exciting aspects of creating a public exhibition in collaboration with their peers.

The exhibition project culminates with an opening reception where students’ parents, teachers, and friends are invited to celebrate and mingle with Miami’s art community on Second Saturday Art Walk in July.